338 to 404 Jeff

22 October 2008, 10:08

James Cardwell

338 to 404 Jeff

Is it possible to convert a Win Classic 338 mag to 404 Jeffery? I've heard you can convert a 30 06, so the 338 should be ok? I really don't need the 338 since I've picked up a 300 H&H for my plains game rifle. Thanks for your help. James

22 October 2008, 11:19

capoward

This thread should answer your questions:

https://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/4711043/m/169101059

Jim

22 October 2008, 17:49

Mikelravy

Be a lot easier to build a 416 Taylor.

22 October 2008, 19:47

McCray

But a 404 and a 300 H&H would be classic...a 416 Taylor? Pffft.

24 October 2008, 09:36

Atkinson

Dennis Olson can do your job for you.

24 October 2008, 22:39

gumboot458

.. If I wanted to push a .423" bullet I would make a 425 Express ...It will kill anything as well as anything else will , and you will always have brass ....

25 October 2008, 01:42

Skinner.

quote:
a 416 Taylor.

416 Ruger makes more sense now that it's been officialized and factory brass will be available.

25 October 2008, 04:10

Woodrow S

And neither are classic anything. I would rather go thru the trouble and build the 404 Jeff.

26 October 2008, 00:13

Atkinson

A 404 is always your best bet IMO..It is truly a classic, I wouldn't be without one. But then I am a total nostalgic I suppose.

26 October 2008, 07:35

David W

James,

Another vote for Dennis Olson. He did some feeding work on my .404 based on a ZKK 602 action. Excellent fellow to work with.

David

27 October 2008, 07:39

James Cardwell

Ray or David, How do I get in touch with Mr. Olson? If I am able to get the conversion it will only be a 404 Jeff. I'm totally into the classics that's why I got the custom 300 H&H built on a Mod 70 pre-war action.

27 October 2008, 09:07

Masterifleman

Dennis Olson
BOX 337 PLAINS
MT 59859

406-826-3790

"I ask, sir, what is the Militia? It is the whole people. To disarm the people is the best and most effective way to enslave them" - George Mason, co-author of the Second Amendment during the Virginia convention to ratify the Constitution

31 October 2008, 08:56

A7Dave

Reading Kuhnhausen's mauser book, I'm led to believe that converting a standard length mauser to a cartridge like the 375HH or a 404 Jeff. dangerously weakens the action. Is that what you were talking about with the conversions that Mr. Olsen does?
At the moment, I'm hoping to put a 9.3x62 barrel on my VZ24, but I'm looking forward to a 375 H&H in the future.
Thanks!

31 October 2008, 09:17

Masterifleman

quote:
Reading Kuhnhausen's mauser book, I'm led to believe that converting a standard length mauser to a cartridge like the 375HH or a 404 Jeff. dangerously weakens the action.

It certainly can if all the metal removed to make room is taken from the front of the reciver and magazine box. If done correctly, about .120" is taken from the rear of the magazine well and .060" is removed from the front of the well and great care is taken to NOT cut the feed ramp at too shallow an angle. Zastava and many reliable custom firms have been doing this for a century or more and I haven't heard of their guns blowing up or even less catastrophic failures. I would believe that if Dennis Olson does the job, it will be done right.

31 October 2008, 12:31

Rusty

Tip Burns, Canyon Lake, Texas built 2 404 Jefferys for me on Montana Rifle Co. Long actions. John Valicek of Canyon Lake did the stock work. Roger Kehr did the engraving.

Rusty
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31 October 2008, 20:34

A7Dave

MasterRifleman,

Thanks for the info! I had been reading an article in Sports Afield about the 404 and it mentioned that "thousands of Mauser 98 rifles chambered in .404 Jeffery were delivered to colonial officers, rangers..."

As seemingly rare as magnum length M98 actions are, I wondered if these were converted standard length M98s.

Great website, by the way! I only found it recently. Thanks for the info.

03 November 2008, 22:06

Atkinson

The guns sent to Africa that were placed in the Game Depts inventory were not M-98 Mausers, but in fact were FNs in 404 Jefferys and many of them are still in use in Tanzania and perhaps in Zimbabwes Game Dept Arsenals..

I have a beautiful FN 404 about 10 years ago and let it get away from me. It fed 110% and was very accurate..but it had an old muzzle brake on it from yesteryear and that bothered me so I peddled it for a good price..wish now I had kept it...